Pirates 4 @ Cubs 14

New Cubs’ acquisition Justin Germano pitched a solid 5 innings to earn his first win in almost 5 seasons. I didn’t get to see every pitch he threw, but from what I did see he had some interesting off-speed stuff and pretty good command of the edges of the strike zone. I’m not sure he’ll amount to much more than fifth starter or a long reliever, but he performed better than Chris Volstad or Randy Wells did when they were called upon for similar duty.

Dale trotted out a predominantly right-handed lineup Monday night to face the Pirates’ Erik Bedard, and they did not disappoint. In fact, they collectively had one of the Cubs’ best offensive nights of the season. Darwin Barney broke open the game with 3-run homer in the 4th inning, and wound up a double shy of the cycle. Anthony Rizzo clubbed his own 3-run homer to kick off an explosive 9-run 5th inning. Yup, 9 runs. It was glorious. Alfonso Soriano, Geovanny Soto, Barney, Joe Mather, and David DeJesus all followed up with singles, and Starlin Castro–himself a triple shy of the cycle–capped off the inning with a 2-run homer to give the Cubs a 11-run advantage.

Reed Johnson made another highlight reel play, sprinting across centerfield to catch a shallow fly ball and then doubling off Pirates’ rookie Starling Marte. Johnson’s throw came in to Starlin Castro, who had faked like it was a groundball double play, causing Marte to slide into second base. If Castro doesn’t sell the fake, I don’t think they double off the speedy Marte.

The one down note for the Cubs in an otherwise stellar game was the “relief” performance of Jeff Beliveau. He came in for Germano in the 6th after the Cubs turned it into a laugher and tried his best to spoil the fun. He faced 7 batters, giving up 3 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs, leaving the bases loaded. Fortunately Manny Corpas got the next batter, former Cub Casey McGehee, to ground into a double play.

Everything Else

The Cubs made a couple trades in the midst of the game. The first indication came in the 5th inning, when Reed Johnson was called back before taking his second at-bat of the inning (he had already reached on an error to lead off the 5th and scored on Rizzo’s homer). The hugs he received from his teammates in the dugout were a good indication that Theo & Jed were up to something. Turns out he and Paul Maholm have been traded to the Braves for pitchers Arodys Vizcaino and Jaye Chapman. Vizcaino appears to be the prize of the deal–he was the Braves #2 prospect and the league’s #40 overal prospect coming into the season, but needed Tommy John surgery during Spring Training. It sounds like Chapman is a solid reliever who might be able to contribute soon. I’ve been a big fan of Reed Johnson in both his tours of duty with the Cubs, and would welcome him back for a third stint if he’s available next year.

But the roster shuffle didn’t end there–Geovanny Soto was pulled in the 6th inning. The word is he’s been traded along with some cash to the Rangers for pitching prospect Jacob Brigham, but the Cubs have yet to make an official announcement about the deal.

You may have already heard that Dale doesn’t expect Ryan Dempster to make his Tuesday night start for the Cubs. Theo & Jed have been talking to to the Dodgers about him and Matt Garza, whom the Blue Jays have also expressed interest in after his clean MRI earlier this week. Perhaps one or both of them will be gone before game time Tuesday. Or maybe they both stay–at this point, all bets are off. What you can say for sure is that plenty of playoff contenders are still looking for starting pitching, and the Cubs are eager to sell. Don’t rule anything out at this point–including Dempster murdering another sweetheart deal at the eleventh hour (for all we know he’s screaming “It rubs the lotion on its skin!” at a potential deal right now).

In the flurry of trade activity Monday night, Brett Jackson was removed from his game for AAA Iowa. At first he was thought to be part of the apparent Reed Johnson deal–then it was rumored he had been called up to the majors. Since the big league team now needs to replace a catcher and a starting pitcher, it looks like he might not get the call up Tuesday. As usual, we’ll know more in the morning. Be sure to check VFTB for updates throughout the day.

Today we will observe a quiet day of mourning and somber reflection here in the land of Lizzie. All are welcome. :::::sniff:::::

BLPCB

When I saw the alert on my iPod that he has been traded, I thought to myself, Lizzie is going to shed a few tears.

http://www.facebook.com/randall.pennington.7 Randall Pennington

Please get Dempster out of here. Trade him to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp’s jock strap for all I care. His bad Karma is coming just aound the corner for putting the Cubs in this position. I hope he chokes on his own spit the next time he does a Harry Caray impersonation.
I am happy with the return we got for Malhom/Johnson. Getting Vizcaino back is huge. Chapman is not just filler product either. I give Thed an B+ grade on this trade that could turn into an A depending on how Vizcaino rehabs.
Getting Brigham for Soto is basically like getting a Rule 5 guy for Soto. He has been decent in AA this year and is only 24.
With these trades and the draft now done we actually have some pitching prospects in the system now!

wisconsinjpc

It’s okay. He’s in a better place now. A place he (hopefully) won’t have to platoon so much.

wisconsinjpc

I disagree. We need to get value for Dempster. I couldn’t care less about the Karma in the clubhouse this season. What’s he going to do? Go Milton Bradley and ruin such a glorious and productive season? If we can’t get a good deal for Dempster, we should hold on to him and make him a qualifying offer so we get a compensatory draft pick.

Josephine

I’m really gonna miss Reed; he was always one of my fave players. Remember back in ’09 when he robbed Prince Fielder of a grand slam when the Cubs were visiting Milwaukee? Yeah, good times. :’(

Mom’s really upset about Geo getting traded; he’s one of her fave players too. I just don’t see why Maholm was traded.

Jedi

So who is the replacement for you, Lizzie? Clevenger does have a rugged, trailer park masculinity that might be working for ya?

Norm Bothwell

He just might accept that though, then you have to do it all over next year. It’s best if he’s traded.

http://www.facebook.com/randall.pennington.7 Randall Pennington

Not talking about clubhouse Karma, his own personal Karma.
I don’t think he or the Cubs want him to face the Cubs fans in Wrigley. They will let him know how they feel.

http://elizababble.com/ Lizzie

Not Clevenger, I can’t get past that old jock strap he uses atop his catchers mask. Jury’s still out on the replacement. Might well have picked Maholm but now I have to re-think. Perhaps I’d better wait til after 3. I’ll be certain to keep everyone posted!!

wisconsinjpc

Yes, it’s best if he’s traded, but not for nothing (or close to nothing). If he can be traded now, there will definitely be a team willing to exceed a qualifying offer by the Cubs. Besides, if we can keep him for an extra year at a steep discount, I don’t see that as the worst outcome.

Badmojo1b

Mahlon was traded because he is pitching well enough for someone to want him. Probably why Marmol won’t be.

Chuck

You can be like everyone else and swoon over Rizzo. Maybe you need some “Beef”?

Chuck

Bah! A pox upon your house! Dempster has been a solid pitcher for the Cubs for many a yea rand you want to disparage him for not wanting to go to Atlanta? Really? (Full disclaimer: I hate the Braves with a Cards-like passion.) Who wants to go to Atlanta? It is the armpit of the South and I can’t blame him for not wanting to go there.

Kris

I heard the news and thought immediately of you. Be strong, Lizzie. No one will ever replace Geo in your heart, but there will be someone else to grab your attention someday.
And on a side note, the arrival of my Little Cubs Fan is now past due. I’ve been MIA, as waiting for this kiddo is tiring!

Jedi

Yep, totally agreee.

Remember, his preferred destination of choice is the Dodgers. That’s killed the Cubs leverage right now; but it could also hamper Dempster’s contract negotiations in the off-season too. If the Cubs make a qualifying offer in the fall, the Dodgers can try to low-ball Dempster.

Jedi

It wouldn’t be a steep discount – estimate of the necessary qualifying offer is $12.5mil per year. If he’s looking for a 3-4 year deal, it’s not going to be much more than that annually. That’s basically what his last deal with the Cubs paid annually.

Norm Bothwell

If he was worried about getting the best deal, he could accept a trade on the condition he work out a contract extension with the acquiring team. That didn’t happen with the Braves; I don’t think it’s the money/years he’s worried about. It’s simply destination right now, with Chicago being his #1 choice. If he can lock in another $12-$13M, I think he accepts it.

Jedi

A solid pitcher? He’s was utter garbage in 2011. A mediocre starter in 2010. MAYBE he was solid in 2009. But in none of those years did he even approach what he has done in 2012 or in his last contract year 2008.

And I want to disparage him for saying he’d go to Atlanta, waiting for a trade to be agreed to by the teams, and only THEN spoiling it all. If he’d said from the beginning that he didn’t want ATL, management wouldn’t have wasted a bunch of time trying to get him there.

Jedi

Took two players that were signed as free agents in the off-season and turned them into a pretty good pitcher coming off an injury and another pitcher who might be useful in the bullpen before long.

Basically anytime we’re turning free agents into prospects that’s a good thing. The Soto trade I care less about.

Eddie Von White

Pretty sure he will get booed if he pitches tonight. I think he thinks he’s more loved than he actually is.

Dusty Baylor

I would loooove to see some prospects picked up that look like they’re ready now.
If Chapman is a good relief either prospect…why is he repeating AAA at age 25?

Cubs Future

Not to mention that his value was quite high and have a potential top prospect in return as he was a top prospect before surgery, so you can’t pass on that. Cubs came up huge with signing him this offseason and spinning him at a high.

Cubs Future

Didn’t get futher down as Jedi said basically the same thing.

Cubs Future

I think part of it is that they have a handful of guys that are holding their own in that bullpen. He probably needs some seasoning to make sure. Some organizations have that luxury to not feel rushed. We want that too. Maybe he won’t be too good, but it isn’t like he is 30+ in that position. Things are getting closer, but hard to say if some team will take a chance on Garza or will wait until offseason. That ought to be best haul, but a few more to fill in hopefully in these last few hours. Otherwise offseason a little and gear up for another draft.

Chuck

Lets take a stroll down memory lane, shall we? Here are his stats since he became a starter for the Cubs in 2008:
2008: 206.2 IP, 2.96 ERA, 154 ERA+, 6.7 brWAR
2009: 200.0 IP, 3.65 ERA, 122 ERA+, 3.2 brWAR
2010: 215.1 IP, 3.85 ERA, 110 ERA+, 2.4 brWAR
2011: 202.1 IP, 4.80 ERA, 80 ERA+, 0.5 brWAR
2012: 104.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 177 ERA+, 3.0 brWAR
I see only one season that is a clunker and that is 2011. Every single other year he was an above-average pitcher who threw over 200 innings. Is he an ace? No. Is he solid? I say yes. He is a solid #2 or #3 on a good staff.

Chuck

I think the Cubs should give the pitching coach a raise. The rotation is MUCH better than I thought it would be on opening day.

BLPCB

Atlanta is not the armpit of the South. It is the capital of the South. Memphis is the armpit of the South.

Jedi

We’re just going to disagree. I’m talking about 2009 and forward, his current contract period. That’s not performance that’s indicative of what we signed him to be, a front of the rotation pillar. The only year during that contract in which he’s been that – this year – he’s also spent 6 weeks on the DL.

Start in 2009, solid; mediocre; garbage; hurt/spectacular. That doesn’t equal three years of solid to me.

BLPCB

Do you really think he would accept it though? I mean this winter is going to be his last chance to get a big fat hairy contract. He will get more than 1 year for sure. If this was 2 or 3 years from now, I would be more hesitant to make a qualifying offer, but not now. I just hope that if he isn’t traded by 3PM, and then later a waiver trade is worked out, that the Cubs don’t do what Hendry did in 2009 with Harden. Pulled him off waivers because he felt he could get better wit the draft picks than what the Twins offered, then he doesn’t offer arbitration to get those picks because he felt Harden would accept it.

Jedi

Isn’t that the same situation we’re in now? The Cubs are forced to do business with Dempster and the Dodgers can low-ball him (wouldn’t you expect them to try and come in with an under-market offer in free agency?). Perhaps money will change Dempster’s acceptable list of destinations, but if the trade deadline comes and goes and he’s still a Cub, what’s changed? He still wants to play for the Cubs or the Dodgers. The Cubs have to work him in order to get anything back. The Dodgers have most of the leverage. The best scenario for the Cubs involves teams outside of Chavez Ravine being involved.

BLPCB

I don’t get what you’re saying. Even if he gets lowballed, do you think he would get less than the qualifying offer?

Jedi

That’s possible. A lot of things could happen between now and the end of the year. He could get injured, and the Cubs could be forced to offer $13mil to a high-injury risk veteran just to get a comp pick.

Or if Dempster wants more years than the Dodgers want to give, that’ll typically drag the annual price down. So his choices might be, take the Cubs qualifying offer or take 3 years and something like $27-33mil from the Dodgers. He won’t be getting 4/$52mil from anyone. 4 years at any price is probably a pipe dream.

Jedi

Dempster has a list of three…Dodgers, Yankees, Rangers. Or at least that what he’s reporting before/until the Cubs approach him with a potential deal.

http://swantron.com/ jswanson

Tasteful ribbing my friend. +1

Dusty Baylor

Well…Dempster did go 15-12 for a team that finished 75-87. Pretty solid.

Jedi

No word on whether that list is to be for this year’s deadline or next year’s – he’s still taking the time to evaluate and decide that.

http://www.facebook.com/randall.pennington.7 Randall Pennington

Dempster to Rangers. Waiting to see who for.

http://www.facebook.com/randall.pennington.7 Randall Pennington

Two class A pitchers.

Jedi

I thought he said his Twitter followers would be the first to know. Two times in one week he’s gone back on his word. Not cool Ryan, not cool.

Doesnt look like we got much for Dempster. Braves deal is looking a lot better.

http://www.facebook.com/randall.pennington.7 Randall Pennington

I really like the return for oh what’s his name. Hendricks has 112 K’s to only 15 walks! Holy Cow!

Villaneuva has an OBP of .356 with 10hr, 19 doubles and 9 stolen bases ( 32 last year ).

Great return for 2 months of service.

Jedi

But Class A…that doesn’t mean a whole lot right now. 22 and 21 years old…they need to start promoting quickly otherwise they’ll be put on the ‘Bryan LaHair Track To The Bigs’ plan.

http://www.facebook.com/randall.pennington.7 Randall Pennington

In our minor league system they would already be in AA. Tex is loaded. A couple of years for both. ( Maybe 3 )

Jedi

Ha! Maybe so, but just because a guy could play 3B for the Cubs today and be an improvement over what’s there doesn’t mean he’s any good.

Norm Bothwell

2009, solid
2010, garbage?

Norm Bothwell

They are OK. Villanueva is the interesting piece. Good 3B defense, average power, 30 stolen bases….doesn’t walk much, doesn’t K much. At best, he’s an average player that will get a boost because of good defense at 3B.
Hendricks is a borderline guy…doesn’t throw all that hard, but that control/command is pretty dam impressive. I have a soft spot for those types.
-
Would still rather have Randall Delgado though…

Doc Raker

Until dreamy Brett Jackson gets called up or they hire Jerry Morales as a coach Lizzie will mourn the trade of Geo.

Jedi

You skipped a word there…

Norm Bothwell

Good edit.
But still, mediocre? 215 innings with a 3.85 ERA is just mediocre?
I’d bet an ordinary starter only goes 180 innings or so with an ERA in the 4′s.

Jedi

I didn’t edit a thing. Bite the curb.

Buddy

Me too Norm.

http://swantron.com/ jswanson

Demp posted the news on his MySpace page in giant glitter text. He also changed his profile’s embedded MIDI to “God Blessed Texas.”

Jedi

Well done!

cap’n obvious

I don’t care if he’s facing Raker’s at Randycamp…112/15 strikeout to walk ratio says a lot about the kid’s ability to use the extremities of the plate. Those are video game numbers. We will like the pitcher.

Jeremiah Johnson

Unless Lizzie loves her some TV bass fishin’, I doubt Clevenger is her man.

http://www.facebook.com/christopherjamesallen Christopher Allen

I believe we did well in the trade with the Braves and I suspect we did well in trading Soto. Demp? – maybe. these A+ guys may turn out ok but I think the Rangers were more desperate than we knew so we should have gotten MORE from them. Feliz to go under the knife and out for the season as of today (plus Oswalt has been terrible for them).

http://elizababble.com/ Lizzie

You’re naming him Geo, right???? Or maybe Gia if it’s not a him?? Just teasing you Kris. The last few days must be driving you crazy. Have Matt drop by with an update when the little slugger arrives as I’m assuming you’ll be otherwise occupied for awhile!!